You dont have javascript enabled! Please enable it!
Archives

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant departure from tradition, the indigenously developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will not participate in this year’s Republic Day flypast, according to official statements from the Indian Air Force.

Wing Commander Jaideep Singh, the Indian Air Force Public Relations Officer, announced that the ALH Dhruv has been excluded from the aerial display due to a recent grounding of its entire fleet. “The ALH Dhruv will not be part of the flypast as the entire fleet of 330 helicopters across the armed forces has been grounded,” he stated. This decision follows a precautionary measure after an Indian Coast Guard ALH crashed in Porbandar, Gujarat, on January 5. Under the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), all helicopters of this type are undergoing thorough inspections.

Regarding the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Wing Commander Singh clarified that its absence from the parade is due to safety considerations related to its single-engine design. “On the LCA Tejas not being part of the flypast, it would not be flown over Kartavya Path since it’s a single-engine aircraft,” he noted. This marks a change from previous years, where Tejas had showcased its capabilities in the 2017 and 2024 Republic Day flypasts.

An unnamed official elaborated on the policy shift, stating, “We have now stopped flying single-engine platforms in the Republic Day flypast.” The rationale behind this decision is the inherent safety benefits of twin-engine aircraft, which offer redundancy in case of engine failure, thus making them a safer choice for such high-profile events.

This year’s flypast, therefore, will not feature these iconic indigenous machines, which have for years symbolized India’s push towards self-reliance in defense manufacturing. The exclusion of ALH Dhruv and LCA Tejas underscores a commitment to safety and operational integrity over spectacle, a decision reflecting the meticulous care taken in the wake of recent incidents.